Water sports boat with retractable speakers

ABSTRACT

A wake boarding or other water sports power boat having retractable rear facing speakers for transmitting an audio signal to a water sports participant towed behind the boat. The power boat has storage compartments on the sides of the boat at the rear of the cockpit. The storage compartments have at least one generally horizontal cover panel having a rear portion that is raisable. The rear facing speakers are mounted under the raisable rear portion, such that the speakers are extended from the compartments when the rear portion is raised.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a water sports boat having rear facing, retractable speakers at a rear portion thereof for transmitting an audio signal to a water sports participant being towed behind the boat.

In a number of water sports it is desirable to be able to broadcast an audio signal to a water sports participant being towed behind the boat. For example, an instructor in the boat might wish to use a loudspeaker for conveying instructional information to the trainee being towed behind the boat. In addition, some water sports participants, particularly wake boarders, like to listen to music while being towed behind a boat. At the present time, music is broadcast to wake boarders by permanently mounted loudspeakers on a tower or bridge that extends over the top of the boat at approximately the position of the boat operator. The output of the speakers thus is broadcast through the cockpit of the boat as well as to the wake boarder positioned many yards behind the boat. The sound can be very loud to the people in the cockpit, while being only moderately audible to the wake boarder. Such speakers are also permanently positioned and visible and hence they are more subject to theft or vandalism as well as providing a continuing obstruction.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rear facing speaker system for a recreational water sports boat, wherein the speakers are mounted to the rear of the cockpit and are retractable when not in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A wake boarding power boat includes retractable rear facing speakers for transmitting an audio signal to a wake boarder towed behind the boat. The power boat has storage compartments on the sides of the boat at the rear of the cockpit. The storage compartments have at least one generally horizontal cover raisably mounted thereon. The covers have a rear portion that is raisable. The rear facing speakers are mounted under the raisable rear portion, such that the speakers are extended from the compartments when the rear portion is raised.

These and other features of the present invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below and shown in the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a power boat employing the retractable speaker system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the speaker system on one side of the boat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view facing rearwardly from the cockpit of the boat of FIG. 1, showing the speakers in an extended position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retractable speaker system, showing a forward storage compartment in an opened condition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control panel of the power boat of FIG. 1, showing the switch for actuating the speaker extending and retracting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an actuator for raising and lowering the speaker enclosure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the actuator of FIG. 6, showing the speakers pivoted upwardly from the actuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a power boat 10 of the type used in water sports wherein a water sports participant is towed behind the boat is shown in FIG. 1. While a number of water sports might be applicable, the present invention is particularly desirable for the sport of wake boarding and similar related sports. Accordingly, for illustrative purposes, the invention will be described in connection with a wake boarding application. It should be understood that the application could also include water skiing, tubing, and similar sports where a person is towed behind a boat and it is desired to direct either an instructional or audible entertainment signal to the participant.

Boat 10 and includes a cockpit 12, an engine compartment 14 at the rear of the boat, a forward storage compartment 16 on each side of the engine compartment, and a rearward storage compartment 18 on each side of the engine compartment to the rear of the forward storage compartments. The power boat 10 illustrated in the present application is a typical wake boarding boat, which has a V-shaped hull and has the motor mounted at the rear of the hull. A wake boarding boat may also include a fillable water bladder for increasing the weight of the boat so as to increase the size of the wake. This is conventional.

In a conventional wake boarding boat of the type illustrated, the forward and rearward storage compartments constitute a single storage compartment with a single cover on the storage compartment. The cover is pivotally mounted on a side edge, such that the opposite side edge can be raised and lowered to open and close the storage compartment.

In the present invention, the storage compartment on each side of the boat is divided into forward and rearward storage compartments 16 and 18, with each forward storage compartment 16 having a cover 20 mounted thereon along an edge 22 of the storage compartment (the outer side edge is shown in the illustrated embodiment). A conventional telescoping door holder 24 holds the door open when it has been opened.

The rearward storage compartment 18 is covered by a rear cover 26. This cover is pivotally mounted over the storage compartment along a forward edge 28, such that a rear edge 30 is pivotally movable upwardly from a closed position, wherein the cover is closed over the rear compartment, to an open position, wherein the cover is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and the rear edge of the rear cover panel is positioned above the rear edge of the storage compartment.

One or more loudspeakers 32 is mounted on the underside of the rear cover adjacent the rear edge of the cover so as to be positioned to have a direct line of transmission for an audio signal between the speaker and a water sports participant behind the boat. In the present invention, there are four speakers 32, two on each side of the boat. These speakers can be conventional. The speakers are connected in a conventional manner to electronic audio equipment mounted in the boat or to a microphone usable by a water sports instructor for transmitting instructions to the water sports participant. The speakers may be used for any audio signal that is desired to be transmitted to a water sports participant.

The speakers 32 desirably are mounted in speaker enclosures 34 mounted on the underside of the rear covers 26. For aesthetic and sound damping purposes, the speaker enclosures may be covered with carpet 36 or the like.

As shown in the drawings, when the rear cover panels are opened, the speakers are extended or raised out of the storage compartment and face rearwardly from the rear portion of the boat, providing a direct line of transmission to the water sports participant. It is a significant advantage of the present invention that the speakers are mounted at the rear side of the cockpit 12. This makes it possible to transmit a loud audio signal to the participant without adversely impacting the persons sitting in the cockpit of the boat.

When the storage compartment covers are closed, the storage compartment covers are basically flush with the rear deck of the boat. In the illustrated application, the cover panels are covered with cushioning 38, so they can be provide a convenient contact area for seating or the like. The cushioning is not essential to the practice of the present invention but is conventional in the illustrated type of boat.

The speakers and rear cover panels can be opened by hand or mechanical lever, or preferably by a powered actuator. A latch or mechanical holding device or other holding device can be used to maintain the cover panel in the open position until closing is desired.

In one embodiment of the invention, a conventional powered actuator 44, mounted at the bottom of the storage compartment has extendible shaft 48 that is pinned by a releasable pin 56 to a bracket 58 on the underside of the speaker enclosure. An electrical motor 46 extends and retracts the output shaft by means of a screw drive. A fluid drive or other conventional lift mechanism also can be employed.

The speaker system actuator can be controlled by an electronic switch 40 preferably mounted on the control panel 42 of the boat. Switch 40, as shown, is a toggle switch, wherein the speakers are extended when the upper side of the toggle switch is depressed, and the speakers are retracted into the storage compartment when the bottom side of the toggle switch is depressed. The electronic controls can also include an automatic shutoff for the speakers when the speakers are retracted into the storage compartment, so that the speakers are only active when they are in their extended positions.

In the operation of the present invention, the speaker cover panels are normally closed, protecting the speakers from undesired contact with the elements and hiding the speakers form exposure to damage or theft. The cushioned cover panels can be used for seating or any other purpose when the speaker enclosures are closed. When the speaker enclosures are open, by the actuation by switch 40 on the control panel, the speakers are automatically raised so as to be in position to direct an audio output to the rear of the boat. People seated in the cockpit are not disturbed by the audio signal, because the audio signal is to the rear of them and directed rearwardly.

The foregoing is exemplary of the application of the retractable, rear facing speaker system of the present invention in a wake boarding boat. Similar applications can be employed in other types of power boats having other rear deck constructions. To the extent that boat has an existing storage compartment at the rear portion thereof, this can be used for mounting speakers, in the manner described above. If there is a portion of rear deck that is available, the rear deck can be modified to have an openable cover panel, with speakers mounted below the cover panel so that they become accessible when the cover panel is raised. A separate speaker enclosure with retractable rear facing speakers can be constructed and attached to the rear portion of the boat, in the event that an open cavity beneath a deck panel is not desirable.

It should be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of the preferred practice of the invention and that various changes in the arrangements and details of construction of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. 

1. In a power boat of the type used for wake boarding, wake skating, water skiing, kite tubing, or the like wherein a water sport participant is towed behind the boat, the improvement comprising a retractable, rear-facing speaker system for transmitting an audio output signal to the water sport participant, the system including at least one rear facing speaker movably mounted in an open interior of a compartment in a rear portion of the boat, the compartment being covered by a cover panel movably mounted for movement between a closed position, wherein the cover panel is closed and conceals the interior of the compartment, and an open position, wherein at least a rear side of the cover panel is raised above an adjacent portion of the boat deck, the speaker being movably mounted in the compartment for movement between a retracted position, wherein the speaker is positioned completely inside the compartment when the cover panel is closed, and an extended position, wherein the speaker is at least substantially raised out of the compartment such that the speaker has a transmission path rearwardly of the boat to the water sports participant being towed behind the boat.
 2. A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat, as in claim 1, wherein the cover panels are cushioned seats that are positioned at a rear portion of the boat, the cushioned seats concealing the existence of a compartment thereunder, such that the existence of speakers is concealed when the cover panels are closed.
 3. A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat, as in claim 2, wherein the speaker is mounted on an underside of the cover panel such that the speaker is raised to its extended position when the panel is opened and is lowered to its retracted position when the cover panel is closed.
 4. A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat as in claim 1, wherein the cover panel is pivotally mounted to the boat at a front edge and a rear portion of the cover panel is raisable to create a rearward facing opening for the extended speaker.
 5. A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat as in claim 1 and further including a powered actuator that, upon actuation, raises the cover panel to its open position and extends the speakers to its extended position.
 6. In a power boat of the type used for wake boarding or waterskiing or the like wherein a water sports participant is towed behind the boat, the improvement comprising a retractable rear facing speaker system comprising at least one rear facing speaker mounted in an open interior of a speaker compartment under a raisable cover panel at a rear portion of the boat, the cover panel being pivotally mounted to the boat at a forward side of the panel, such that a rear side of the panel pivots upwardly between a closed position, wherein the panel is generally horizontal, and an open position wherein the panel is inclined, a rear facing speaker being movably mounted in the compartment for movement between a retracted position, wherein the speaker is completely inside the compartment such that the panel can be closed, and an extended position, wherein the speaker is at least substantially raised out of the compartment such that the speaker has an unobstructed transmission path rearwardly of the boat toward a person being towed behind the boat, the speaker and panel being releasably urged to remain in their open and extended positions when the speaker assembly is extended, the speaker assembly being in electronic communication with a source of electronic audio output that is to be transmitted aft to the water skier.
 7. In a wake boarding power boat wherein an engine compartment is positioned adjacent a rear end of the boat and storage compartments are positioned on the sides of the engine compartment, with each storage compartment having a cover panel pivotally mounted thereon for providing access to the interior of the storage compartments, the improvement wherein the storage compartment cover panel comprises a rear portion and a forward portion, the rear portion being movably mounted so a rear edge thereof can be positioned above the compartment when opened and can close the compartment when closed, the forward portion of the cover being movably mounted for opening and closing movement independent of the rear portion of the cover panel, loudspeakers being mounted below the rear portion for movement with the rear portion so as to extend at least partially above the compartment when the rear portion is opened.
 8. A wake boarding power boat having retractable rear facing speakers for transmitting an audio signal to a wake boarder towed behind the boat, the power boat having an engine compartment adjacent a rear portion of the boat, with storage compartments on the sides of the engine compartment, the storage compartments having generally horizontal covers raisably mounted thereon, the cover on at least one side of the boat including a rear portion and a front portion, the rear portion being raisable, the rear facing speakers being mounted under the raisable rear portion, such that the speakers are extended from the compartments when the rear portion is raised. 